Is hypocrisy a sin, negative vibe, whatever? Has your church/temple/group..

[Tikki]

ever had a sermon/discussion only on hypocrisy and how it affects lives?

My brother-in-law who is a minister says that hypocrisy is grouped in with other sins and
he just quotes a bible passage about a plank and an eye to explain it.



Tikki

[cbayer]

1. Definition

a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not; especially : the false assumption of an appearance of virtue or religion

I'm not aware of a list of specifically designated sins, other than breaking the ten commandments. I suppose it could fall under:
"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain"

Anyway, if purposeful, it's a lie and I think most would agree that that is not a good thing.

What your BIL references is the following:

Matthew 7:3-5
New International Version (NIV)
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

which is a "people's in glass houses" kind of directive.

[hrmjustin]

2. In the 16 years I have been at my church I have not every really heard a sermon on sin.

They do talk about hypocrisy when the readings mention it. My priests really try to be more uplifting in their sermons. We are not into doom and gloom.

[cbayer]

3. This jives with my own experience.

The church I was raised in never really talked about sin. My catholic friends did, but we (protestants) did not. Just about the golden rule and how you treat other people in general.

I guess sin is kind of like pornography - you know it when you see it, lol.

[hrmjustin]

4. Most Episcopal Churches are not really big into the sin business in the pulpit.

We are more like the chestnuts roasting on an open fire type of church.

[Tikki]

5. No one I know ever talks about hypocrisy. It is like the elephant in the room so many times.

I don't think it is a lie so much. Isn't it saying or doing something as a command and then saying or
doing the opposite as an action?

I don't really know anything about religion or religious institutions. This group may teach me a bit or two.


Well anyway, thanks for the responses.


Tikki

[hrmjustin]

6. Well many churches do talk about practice what you preach.

They may word it differently and apply it differently but churches do address the issue.

[Tikki]

7. Cool..I was hoping the word connected to the action could be driven home a bit at large...

I do/did with my family...and we talk about it...'Don't be saying that, if your doing that'. that type thing.
But I have never just met anyone who discusses it.


Maybe talking about hypocritical actions is one of those family type conversations not for polite company.

Tikki

[No Vested Interest]

8. You might say Hypocrisy is

Living a lie.

[jeepnstein]

9. Oh yeah.

That's a big one with us. We've had a series of sermons dealing with it before. It's guaranteed to have everyone squirming in their seat, which is a very good thing. It can destroy a congregation and therefore is a serious topic.

[Tikki]

10. Hope it doesn't destroy a congregation but it is an important discussion.

Grand on your congregation for talking about hypocrisy.



Tikki